Apparatus for making molds



Dec. 26, 1950 R. M. SMITH APPARATUS FOR MAKING MOLDS '3 Sheets-Sheet 1 #MJI4II-\II'H|IIII-IIIJI I I I I I l I I ll 1 V Q Q r .LlLilllllllllllIlIL Filed Feb. 16, 1948 IN V EN TOR. E'rarJM 5 6 Dec. 26, 1950 R; M. SMITH APPARATUS FOR MAKING MOLDS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 16, 1948 IN VEN TOR. 13/6/9012 M 5m 1% Java/nay Dec. 26, 1950 R. M. SMITH APPARATUS FOR MAKING MOLDS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 16, 1948 mum INVENTOR. P/cfiarJ M. $117111;

Patented Dec. 26, 1950 UNITED: STATES PATENT" OFFICE Richard M. Smith, Tuscaloosa, Ala-L, assigno'r of fifty percentto Leo E. Kiedinger, Birmingham,

Ala.

Application February 16, 1948, Serial No. 8,500-

3 claims.

M present invention relates to apparatus for th production of molds, and has for an object the provision of apparatus of the character designated embodying a plurality of flask supporting stripper units disposed to move successively from an initial station to a sand filling and jolting station, and thence toa disassembly orfinal station where. the mold is stripped from the pattern, themovement ofr allot the units between stations being-g efiected by a single piece of apparatus, such as a hydraulic or air cylinder.

Another objectis te provide apparatus of the character designated-in which the flask pass successively from the initialto the final station with the upper edges of the flasks substantially: in en'- gagement, together with a pivoted strike-off member engageable with the; top of each flask as it passes the'jolting station, whereby the flasks are struck offand the excess sand thereon is deposited. into the next oncoming, empty flask, thus eliminating sand spillage and the necessity of rehandling the same as has heretofore been the practice.

Another object is to provide improved flask supporting and stripping units disposed to receive and supportinterchangeably pattern plates carrying a cope or drag and embodying mechanism to effect a deep draw of the mold from the pattern, together with means to actuate said mechanism as the strippers carrying the packed flasks approach the final station of my improved apparatus.

Other objects are to provide apparatus of the character designated which shall be simple of construction and operation, and in which molds of high quality may, be produced quickly andin large numbers witha-minimum of skilled labor; in which a curved return roller conveyor connects the initial and finalstations, thus providing meansfor readily returning the strippers and flasks for reuse; to provide an improved stripper unit in which the molds ar stripped responsive to movement of the units, and embodying." positively operable actuating mechanism fofst'ripping the molds from the patterns after the molds are formed operable responsivet'o movement of the strippers.

Apparatus embodying the features ofm invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing forminga part of this application in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentalsectional view of my improved apparatus showing astripper unit on each station thereof Fig. 2 is a plan view with the stripper units removed andillustrating the arrangement of the roller beds, the pressure cylinder for moving a line ofstripper'unitsfrom station to station, and the return conveyor for empty strippers";

Fig. 3' is a detached plan view of the pivoted strike 0ft member Fig. 4 is an' elevational view of my improved stripper unit with the flask raising pins thereof inlowered position;

Fig. 5 is. a sectional viewtaken'along lineV 'V of Fig. 4' and showing the flask raising pins in raised position;

Fig. 6 is a; detail sectional view taken along line VI--VI Of Fig. 4E; and,

Fig. '7 is a detached perspectiveviewofi' the linkage: and operating levers for lifting the flask raising pins to'striptheiiiold'sl Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding" of my'inve'ntion, and more parti'cularly to Figs. 1, and 2" thereof, my improved apparatusco'mprises three stations, A, B, and C. A plurality of" aligned stripper units indicated generally b the numeral; l0 and carrying pattern plates H and flasks l2; are disposedto move intermittently and successively from" the initial station A to the intermediate statibn B and thence to the'final station Cl Station A comprises a divided rollei bed' having sections t3 and H spaced apart to provide an opening. 16 therebetween'. V Theseetions l3azid' f4 preferably are of the ball'type, and are supported by'any suitable sub -fram'ework I'l.

Station B com ris s a jolt table embodying a topplate [8 to which is operatively connected a suitable form ofjolt mechanism, indicatedby the numeral 19. The particulartypeof joltni'ech'anism forms no part of myin'vention as several suitabletypes will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. Suitable controls for intermittently operating" the j'olting mechanism 19 maybe provided; thesame not being shown in the drawing.

Mounted iii any suitablemannf albbv'e the jolt table is a sandhbpper 2|. At the bottom of the hopper is a palirof pivotedsandgate 22, opera-- tively connect'edto the piston rod 23 of a hydraulic or air oyliriderz t, theother endof which is securedto a bracket 26 one side of the hopper 2 1'. Suitable controlsanda source'ofair' or'fluid under pressure, not shown; areprovided'formoving the pistonrod 23*; thereby to open" the gates 22 and dischar'gsan'd fromthehopperjintoa flask positioned therebeneath; v

Pivotally mounted one; red of shaft 2! supported on any suitableframework 28 is an iiielined' strikeofl" member 29. As best shown in treatment or pouring operations.

pin SI having an enlarged head 32. v carries a roller 63 on its lower end.

Fig. 3 of the drawing, the strike-off member is in the form of a trough having a bottom 3| and sides 32. The corner 33 of the bottom 3! adjacent the side 32 projects forwardly in the direction of inclination of the trough a greater distance than does the opposite corner 34. The reason for this construction will be presently explained.

tation C comprises a roller bed 36 which preferably is made of a plurality of cylindrical rollers. Mounted on either side of the rollers 35 of station C are upstanding members 31. Mounted on the sides of the members 31 adjacent the roller bed 36 is a roller 38. The rollers 38 are positioned in the path of certain actuating mechanisms presently to be described and cooperate therewith to raise the flask and mold upwardly from the pattern carried by the pattern plate ll, thereby to strip the mold.

Adjacent the station C is another roller bed 39 preferably formed of balls in sockets over which the stripper units pass after leaving station C. A roller conveyor 4! lead away from the section 39 and is disposed to transport finished molds to other stations, not shown, for subsequent A semi-circular conveyor 42 connects at either end with the initial station A and the roller bed 39. The stripper units are returned to the station A over the conveyor 42 as will be explained later.

Disposed in a suitable pit 43 beneath the stations A, B, and C are tracks 44 and 43. A carriage 41 having rollers'48 mounted to reciprocate on the tracks 44 and 46 carries an upstanding "plate 49 adapted to enter the space it between the sections l3 and [4 of the roller bed at station A. An air or hydraulic cylinder St has its piston rod 52 connected to the carriage ll and affords means for reciprocating the same on the ,tracks 44 and 48. Suitable controls and a source :of air or fluid under pressure, not shown, are provided to effect reciprocation of the piston i within the cylinder I is adapted to engage behind a stripper unit if;

The upstanding plate 45 on the station A and push the same, together ,with the others on stations B and C, to the left as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 4 to 7 The upper flange 53 is provide a pair of bosses 51, each of which is drilled vertically as indicated at 58. Disposzd in each of the openings 58 is a vertically movable Each pin 6| Adjacent the bottom of each of the stripper units H3 and extending transversely thereof through suitable hearings in the ribs 55 are front and rear shafts 64 and 66, respectively. The front shafts 64 extend outwardly past the sides of the unit as shown clearly in Fig. 4. On the outer end of the shaft 64 I secure levers 6i,

and adjacent the center of the shaft ad I provide a pair of short arms 68. Adjacent the center of shaft 65, I provide a similar pair of short arms 59 and the arms 68 and 69 are cross cOnnLcted by to the left.

4 a pair of links H. On the side of the stripper unit I provide each shaft 64 and 66 with a pair of short arms 12 and 73, respectively, and cross connect each of these pairs of arms by means of a link 74. The links 14 are disposed immediately beneath the rollers 63 at each side of the unit, and it will be apparent that upon upward movement of the links M, the pins 5| move upwardly in the bosses 57. The arms '58 and 69 and their cross links H serve to transmit rotation of shaft 64 to the shaft 66 thus assuring that the arrangement of linkage does not become locked due to being positioned on dead center when the levers 3'! are in vertical position.

From the foregoing the operation of my improved apparatus may now be readily explained and understood. The stripper units it, pattern plate II, and flasks l2 are assembled at the station A. As will be understood, the flasks are assembled in inverted position on the pattern plate H with the arms 5'! raised to vertical position, thereby lowering the pins 6|. The heads 62 of the pins pass through suitable openings '16 provided in the edges of the pattern plates, thereby to lie beneath the lower flanges of the flasks l2 in position to raise the same upwardly. With a thus assembled unit in position on station A, the hydraulic cylinder 5| is actuated to move the carriage 4? to the left as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2. The plate 43 engages behind the lower flange of the stripper unit l5 and moves the same to the left, off station A onto station B. A charge of sand is now placed in the flask [2 by opening the gates 22 and the jolt mechanism I9 is energized. The pivoted strikeoff member 29 is positioned on top of the flask l2 as shown in Fig. 1. The carriage is now moved to the right and another stripper unit carrying a pattern plate and flask is placed on station A. As soon as the mold occupying station E has been jolted sufficiently to pack the sand therein, cylinder 5| is actuated to move the carriage 41 again to the left. This action brings the lower flanges 54 of the stripper units Ill together and simultaneously the upper flanges i211 of the flasks I2 come as close together as possible without touching. The leftward moving carriage thus pushes the two units As the unit occupying station B moves to the left, the member 29 strikes off the flask and excess sand therefrom is deposited into the flask moving from station A to station E. The forwardly projecting corner 33 of the bottom 3! of the unit 29 bridges the gap between the flanges 12a, permitting the flasks to move thereunder. At the same time, the bottom 3| effectively strikes off the flask leaving station B. As the unit occupying station B moves to station C, the vertically disposed levers B1 engage the stationary rollers 38. This effects rotation of the forward and rear shafts 64 and G6 and causes the links 74 to move upwardly, thereby raising the pins ill. The pins engage the lower flanges of the flask l2, raising the flask upwardly and stripping the mold therein from the pattern carried on the pattern plate H. The mold has thus been formed, packed, struck off, and stripped responsive to the movement from station A to station C. After the flask is raised and while still occupying station C, a workman engages a pair of lifting hooks 75 with the usual trunnions l1 carried on the flask and raises the same upwardly. While suspended from the lift mechanism, the flask is rolled over and deposited on the roller conveyor 4!. The flasks preferably are of the snap type and the mold is stripped assaese therefrom while on the conveyor 4|. The introduction of another unit into the line on station A and leftward movement of the entire line moves the unit from which the flask has been lifted onto the roller bed 30. The stripper units I carrying the pattern plates are now moved onto the semi-circular roller conveyor 42 from the roller bed 39, and the flask just released may be reassembled thereon at that point. The re assembled stripper unit carrying the flask and pattern plate is returned from station 39 to the initial station A for reuse, it being understood that in the process of reassembling the units the levers 67 are moved again to vertical position, thereby to lower the pins BI.

While I have not shown the same in the drawings, it will be obvious that suitable automatic stop means for positioning the units on the various stations may be provided if desired. However, in view of the fact that the jolt table comprising station B is a separate unit from the remainder of the apparatus, it will be apparent that the units do not tend to move about except when positively propelled. Likewise, the usual pins may be provided on the pattern plates for guiding the flasks while being moved upwardly to draw the mold.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have devised an improved mechanism for making molds which is considerably simplified and more eflicient than apparatus heretofore employed for that purpose. It will be understood that the pivotally mounted strikeoff member 29 is positioned manually on top of the first flask to occupy station B, and that thereafter the same automatically maintains its strikeoif relation with respect to succeeding flasks, the forwardly projecting corner 33 aiding the same in bridging the gap between the upper flanges 12a of adjacent flasks. It will likewise be apparent that by connecting the forward and rear shafts 64 and 66 through the linkage shown, the levers 61 may be moved upwardly with a small amount of force to raise the flasks and strip the mold. By the arrangement of linkage shown, I am enabled to obtain a 5 much deeper draw of the mold from the pattern than has hereto-fore been obtainable with a cam arrangement. It will be apparent that the depth of draw may be determined by the length of the arms 72 and 73.

While I have stated that I prefer to employ snap type flasks, it will be apparent that tight flasks may be used with equally advantageous results. If the latter are used, they are returned to the station A for reassembly on the stripper units by any suitable means, not shown.

I am aware that various types of machines have heretofore been proposed for the continuous production of molds. However, so far as I am aware, all of these machines embody some form of carrier such as chains or conveyors for pulling the flask carrying units from station to station. With the apparatus disclosed herein it is to be noted that the complete flask supporting unit is vibrated, and that the vibration is not transmitted to other units due to the absence of interconnecting members between the units,

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications, without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

i. In apparatus for making molds embodying a roller bed and a plurality of pattern plate and flask supporting units movable in contact with each other in a line along the roller bed, the combination of means to charge the flasks with sand, means supporting the flasks on said units with an upper edge of each flask as close as possible to an upper edge of adjacent flasks without touching, a strike-off member positioned above the line of units and having a lower edge engaging the top of each flask as the line of flasks moves thereunder, said strike-off member being in the form of a trough inclined upwardly from the direction in which the flasks move and mounted adjacent its upper end for pivotal movement in a vertical plane, thereby to scrape excess sand from the top of the flasks and deposit the same in the next rearward flask of said moving line of flasks.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which the lower edge of the trough bottom engages the tops of the flasks and in which one corner of the lower edge of the trough bottom is longer than the other thereof as the trough is viewed in plan.

3. In apparatus for making molds, an initial station embodying a pair of roller beds spaced laterally apart providing an opening therebetween, a second station embodying a jolt table, a third station embodying a roller bed, all of said stations being in side by side relation and in alignment, flask and pattern supporting units movable successively from the initial station. onto the jolt table and thence to the last station in contact with each other during movement and supporting the flasks with the top edges thereof as close together as possible without touching, an air cylinder embodying a reciprocable piston rod mounted beneath the jolt table, a pair of tracks, a wheeled carriage on the tracks connected to the piston rod, an upstanding member on the carriage disposed in the opening between the roller beds of the initial station and engageable with the unit occupying the initial station to move it and the units occupying the other stations to succeeding stations, means to fill the flask with sand while on the jolt table, a stationary strike-01f member above the jolt table in the form of a trough inclined from its upper end toward the initial station and with the lower end engaging the tops of the flasks as they move thereunder to remove excess sand from the flask on the jolt table and deposit the same in the flask moving onto the jolt table, a roller bed adjacent the third station onto which the units move from the third station responsive to movement of the carriage, and a semi-circular conveyor connecting the last named roller bed and the initial station over which the units are returned to the initial station.

RICHARD M. SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 516,610 McGilVray Mar. 13, 1894 784,123 Pridmore Mar. 7, 1905 972,108 Herbert Oct. 4, 1910 1,347,552 Prince July 27, 1920 1,798,435 Mulvihill Mar. 31, 1931 2,068,835 Wurster Jan, 26, 1937 2.365.920 Vaughn W"-.- Dec. 26. 194% 

